At 97, Mel Brooks Is Grateful To 'Still Be Alive' Despite Enduring The Death Of His Wife Who 'Believed' in Him

Jul 06, 2023 by apost team

Hollywood's living legend Mel Brooks has come a long way in his chosen path with a career spanning over seven decades. In his prime, Mel etched his name in the movie industry with classic movies, comedy projects and adept directorial skills. As an aged industry practitioner, Mel enjoys his life away from the spotlight, but his numerous works stay active and help keep him in the conversation.

The filmmaker's expertise was quite pivotal in the 1950s and across later decades, birthing evergreen comedy albums like "The 2000 Year Old Man" and "Get Smart." Mel turned 97 on June 28, 2023, and while he celebrated being alive and well, he reflected on how he came a long way to being recognized way past his prime. 

While Mel's career advanced, he gained fame, leading to a great faction of his personal life playing out in public. The star, known as an incredibly successful film director, was married twice, and his second marriage left an impact so significant that he keeps reliving the good times. 

"The Producers" director was first married to Florence Baum, whom he met on the set of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," where she worked as a dancer. The pair became man and wife in 1953 and were together for less than a decade. Mel and Florence had three children — Nicholas "Nick," Stephanie "Stefanie," and Edward "Eddie" Brooks. 

Mel and Baum called it quits in 1962 at a time when he was battling financial issues. Mel's $5000 a week salary suddenly dwindled, and as he strived to make ends meet, he was away from home for a while. When he returned to his home in New York, Baum served him with divorce papers.

The bleak story of Mel's love life took a turn for the better two years after he and Baum ended their marriage. When he met mainstream method actress, Anne Bancroft, Mel gave love a second chance. Just like Mel, Bancroft remains one of the most recognizable Hollywood stars for her acting prowess.

During her lifetime, she was known for movies like "The Elephant Man, "Garbo Talks" and "The Miracle Worker," among others. Bancroft goes down In history as one of the 24 entertainers to attain the Triple Crown of Acting. It is safe to say that Mel is similar to her in this regard because he remains one of the 18 stars to attain EGOT status. 

Bancroft and Mel met in 1961 at a time when her career was soaring. According to Country Living, the duo met on "The Perry Como Show" when she was rehearsing a song-and-dance routine. In a vintage interview from PBS's documentary "Mel Brooks: Make a Noise," Bancroft recalled the first time she met her husband. She noted that Mel had called out to her and introduced himself. 

She noted that it took her aback because "In two years, no man had ever approached me with that kind of aggression." The actress relayed that it was "because I had just done (the Broadway plays) 'Two for the Seesaw' and 'The Miracle Worker,' and people were very scared of me, especially men."

This piqued her interest in Mel, and the duo hit it off in due time. She recalled "instantly" falling in love with him because he reminded her of her parents. Mel also recalled how they met in a 2021 article for Vulture. The movie director described Bancroft as "incredibly beautiful," and once they started talking, they "never stopped."

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They got married at New York City Hall in 1964. With time, Mel and Bancroft became a power couple, working on film projects. Eight years after walking down the aisle, the lovebirds welcomed their only child together, Max Brooks. 

According to People, Max studied history at Pitzer College and obtained a Master's in Film from American University. He followed in his parents' footsteps as an actor and a successful writer. Max's older siblings from his dad's first marriage also created career paths in Hollywood. 

His parents enjoyed a blissful love life for over four decades before his mom passed on in 2005. Bancroft battled uterine cancer before her death. This left a great gash in her husband's heart. Speaking with People in 2021, the multi-award winner recalled his good times with Bancroft. 

Mel fondly noted how she encouraged him to follow his heart and enjoy "a good adventure." He explained how Bancroft supported him during the first few years of their marriage, adding that "she always believed in me." Mel said about her passing: 

"Living this life without her is not easy. There were a lot of great kisses and great spaghetti."

In 2023, Mel spoke with the same publication, this time reminiscing on his long-running career and how he was able to gain recognition long after his prime. The star relayed: 

"First of all, I am very happy to still be alive. But secondly, it is so nice to be recognized by my peers in The Academy over 50 years after my last Oscar."

Mel's statement referenced an announcement about his honorary Academy Award, which was made two days before his birthday. According to Variety, the veteran was announced as a recipient alongside stars like Angela Bassett. 

Isn't it fulfilling that Mel Brooks keeps getting his flowers after years of being in the industry? Do you recall some of his pivotal onscreen moments with his late wife, Anna Bancroft? Let us know, and be sure to share this piece with other Mel Brooks admirers.